Munde prevented from going to violence-hit Sangli district

Mumbai: Senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde was
on Monday detained at the airport here to prevent him from leaving
for violence-hit Sangli district to address a rally, prompting
protests by party workers who were baton charged by the
police.

Deputy Police Commissioner Brijesh Singh said Munde was
stopped from going to the area following an order issued by
the Kolhapur District Collector.

Munde`s address at Miraj could have aggravated the tense
situation in the district, officials said.

The BJP general secretary was scheduled to visit Miraj in
Sangli district where curfew is in place following communal
violence during Ganesh festival. He was to take a private
airlines flight to Kolhapur from where he was scheduled to go
by road to Miraj.

Munde was released soon after his detention, police said.

About 100 to 150 BJP workers held demonstration and tried
to barge into the airport after their leader was stopped
there.

"In order to control the situation, police lathi-charged
the crowd protesting outside the airport. Munde`s boarding
pass was also seized," the Deputy Police Commissioner said.

"Minister of State for Home, Nitin Raut was stopped from
flying to Kolhapur. Munde and Raut were stopped following an
order issued by the Kolhapur District Collector," he said.

Munde was to address a meeting in connection with a
recent riot at Miraj in the district, BJP sources said.